An introduction to Type 2 Diabetes

Unfortunately diabetes is on the rise and is said to be the fastest growing health treat of our times. In the UK alone around 3million people have been diagnosed with diabetes, which is a 100% increase in the last 20 years.

Diabetes is undoubtedly a multifactorial disease, meaning there can be a number of potential contributing factors to the development of diabetes. When it comes to type 2 Diabetes this is much more a disease of nutrition and lifestyle management. Type 2 Diabetes is not something that occurs overnight, it is something that develops for years and years.

Some of us are certainly more genetically predisposed to developing diabetes that others, I include myself in that, given the long history of diabetes on my mother’s side. However, just because you might be genetically more likely to develop diabetes, it does not mean you have to go down that path.

As well as helping family members with their diabetes related issues, I have also worked with a number of clients to help them with their management and prevention of type 2 diabetes.

How can nutrition help with Type 2 Diabetes?

The development of type 2 diabetes is something that occurs primarily as a result of something called insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is when the cells in your body become less effective at responding to insulin, making it harder to get glucose from the blood into your cells.

As a result the body makes more insulin to get that sugar into the cell. Overtime the cells become less and less responsive to insulin until eventually blood glucose is no longer able to enter the cell effectively and your blood glucose becomes chronically elevated, it is at this point you will be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and likely recommended medications to help control your blood glucose levels.

The reality is that insulin resistance and chronic elevations in insulin and glucose bring with it much more risk than just diabetes, they can increase the risk of a number of other health issues including weight gain and diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancers, hormonal issues to name a few.

Type 2 Diabetes Nutritionist

Can lifestyle impact Type 2 Diabetes as well?

As well as nutrition, our lifestyle can also affect insulin sensitivity. Having had 8 years experience as a personal trainer, I am also aware of the role exercise can have in helping to prevent or even help reverse type 2 diabetes. There is plenty of established research now indicating specific forms of exercise in their role in improving diabetes outcomes and this is something that I would certainly discuss with you during our consultations.

Stress is also a big contributing factor as stress can in fact increase levels of blood glucose purely from the increase in stress hormones. This in itself can be a contributing factor behind the development of type 2 diabetes in some individuals.

Sleep too been linked with the development of insulin resistance, thus ensuring you are getting a good night sleep is also important to me.

Relevant Testing

Diabetes, insulin resistance and blood glucose issues can in general be related to numerous other issues including nutrient insufficiencies, gut bacteria and digestive imbalances. As well as using blood testing to determine diabetes risk or stage, we can also use other tests to try and address underlying contributors to the development and progression of type 2 diabetes.

I’ll also be pleased to review your blood test results from your GP at no extra cost on top of my consultation services.